SBIR Phase II: Capture and Use of Coal Mine Ventilation Air Methane (VAM)

该小企业创新研究二期项目旨在开发减少煤矿瓦斯爆炸的创新技术解决方案和产品。瓦斯爆炸是造成矿山人员伤亡和经济损失的主要原因。世界煤矿爆炸事件的清单很长，令人震惊。即使在人类消失三百年后的今天？在最初的煤炭开采中，甲烷爆炸每年仍导致全球数千名矿工死亡。甲烷在煤层中自然产生，具有爆炸危险和化学中性，这使得它非常危险，但很难去除。虽然现代技术已经发展到预先释放甲烷或通过通风稀释甲烷，但由于经常发生的气体爆发和积聚，实际上不可能消除威胁。由于经济上的考虑，矿主和管理者对每次瓦斯报警都不愿及时采取行动。有时，他们的犹豫被证明是致命的。Torrey Hills发明了一种技术，可以有效地从环境大气中捕获甲烷并将其转化为安全的化学品，从而减少爆炸风险和煤矿业主的停产损失。该技术的主要特点是常温常压操作，辅助通风，免考勤，便携。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力不仅包括为煤矿业主和经营者增加经济价值，还包括通过减少生命损失和改善环境保护，为更广泛意义上的社会整体财富做出贡献。据估计，世界煤炭市场每年的规模为4000亿至6000亿美元。据世界煤炭协会统计，全球每年因甲烷爆炸造成的直接经济损失超过100亿美元。然而，更广泛的间接成本难以衡量，包括生命损失、受影响家庭的困难、当地商业的中断、公司的法律负担以及政府和社会的相关成本。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project proposes to develop innovative technical solutions and products that reduce coal mine gas explosion. Methane explosion is the major cause of mining casualty and economic loss. The list of world coal mine explosion is a long and shocking one. Even today, 300 years after human?s initial mining of coal, methane explosion still kills thousands of miners each year worldwide. Developed naturally within coal seams, methane is known for explosion hazard and chemical neutrality, which makes it highly dangerous but difficult to remove. Although modern technologies have been developed to pre-release methane or to dilute it by ventilation, it is practically impossible to eliminate the threat due to frequently occurred gas bursts and accumulation. Due to economic concern, mine owners and managers hesitate to take prompt action in response to each gas alarm. Sometime, their hesitation proved to be deadly. Torrey Hills invented a technology that can effectively capture methane from ambient atmosphere and convert it to safe chemicals, and thus can reduce explosion risk and operation shutdown loss to coal mine owners. The main features of the technology are room-temperature and room-pressure operation, complementary to ventilation, attendance free, and portable.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes not only addition of economic value to coal mine owners and operators, but also contribution to the overall society wealth in a broader sense by reducing life loss and improving environmental protection. The world coal market is estimated to be $400-600 billion per year. According to World Coal Association, the direct economic loss caused by coal methane explosion is over $10 billion worldwide each year. Nevertheless, the broader indirect costs are difficult to measure, including loss of life, hardship on the affected families, disruption to the local business, legal burden on the companies, and associated costs to governments and the society.